Letter: Most Amherst Residents Unware of Jones Library Expansion Project

This letter appeared previously in the Daily Hampshire Gazette.

Last week I, along with three others, spent several hours over the course of four days on the street in downtown Amherst gathering signatures on a petition to stop the demolition and expansion of the Jones Library. We had many interesting and in depth conversations. Of all the approximately one hundred people who stopped to speak with us, only one supported the current project. Since we had a large sign that said “SAVE OUR LIBRARY, STOP THE DEMOLITION” I assume that people who support the project chose not to stop and engage with us. Fair enough. No one wants their assumptions challenged.

The most interesting and telling aspect of the experience was that no more that a half dozen of the people who stopped knew anything about the project. Only two were up to date on the current status of the project, one of whom was a local radio journalist. Another half dozen or so had a general idea of what the project would do. All the rest,over ninety percent, had no idea at all that changes to the Jones Library are planned, and that there is a plan to demolish a part of the existing structure and build a new addition. Without exception, when
they were shown the pictures from the town website of the planned changes and additions and told how much it would cost, they were outraged.

The backers of this project continue to spout the disingenuous claim that sixty percent of the town supports the project. In fact, very few of the town’s residents are aware of the project. Even among those who know something is happening, including those who supported it in the 2021 referendum, many if not most don’t know what the plan entails, how much it will cost the town, and what other town priorities will be preempted because of it.

Lou Conover

Lou Conover is a resident of Amherst’s District 1